Malta denounced as tax haven by Green MEPs

Malta was accused on 11 January 2017 by a group of Green MEPs of being a tax haven, with some companies allegedly paying as little as 5% tax on their profits.

The report commissioned by these MEPs concluded that the country would have been included in the tax havens blacklist if the criteria developed by the European Commission for non-EU countries were applied to member states.

On paper, Malta has the highest corporate tax in the European Union. But in reality a sophisticated system of tax breaks, on intellectual property for example, allows companies to pay as little as zero corporate tax.

The report was made public as the country took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 11.01.17: Malta accused of being tax haven as it takes EU presidency https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/11/malta-tax-eu-presidency-green-meps

Malta Today, 11.01.17: European Greens accuse Malta of being tax haven as it takes EU helm http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/europe/73331/greens_target_malta_over_lowtax_regime_as_eu_presidency_opens#.WHdjJn0hGy9

Times of Malta, 11.01.17: EU Greens claim Malta could be put on tax haven blacklist http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170111/local/eu-greens-claim-malta-could-be-put-on-tax-haven-blacklist.636189

The Greens/EFA EP Group: Is Malta a tax haven? Implications for Europe during the Maltese Presidency and beyond [PDF] http://www.greens-efa.eu/files/doc/docs/bf40d4e12d67574f0bbcecf067325a03.pdf

The Greens/EFA EP Group: Press Release, 11.01.17: Maltese EU Presidency and tax practices http://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/maltese-eu-presidency-and-tax-practices/

The Greens/EFA EP Group: News, 10.01.17: Implications of Maltese presidency for EU tax reforms http://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/implications-of-maltese-presidency-for-eu-tax-reforms/

EUObserver, 12.01.17: Malta rejects tax haven accusations https://euobserver.com/economic/136525

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